Peace activist faces deportation

The Israeli army has been tightening security in Gaza

A Belfast woman is facing deportation from Israel after she was arrested in the West Bank at the weekend.

Charlotte Carson, 27, a peace campaigner, was arrested by Israeli troops in the town of Tulkarem on Saturday.

She is one of five peace activists, two US nationals and three Britons, who were arrested.

Ms Carson was working with the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) a group of pro-Palestinian activities who engage in non-violent direct action to protect civilians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

The group was recently blacklisted by the Israeli authorities.

Non-violent action

She and a colleague, US citizen Radhika Sainath, were arrested at what an Israeli army spokesman said was an illegal demonstration under curfew during which, he claimed, petrol bombs were thrown at soldiers.

Both women were brought before a court on Sunday.

However, charges of "disturbing Israeli soldiers from performing their duties" were dismissed.

"The police dropped the charges because I managed to show it was a vindictive charge against non-violent human rights workers whose only purpose was to present human rights violations," their lawyer Shamai Leibowitz said.

Nevertheless, the two women face deportation charges at a hearing later this week.

"How can the Ministry of Interior issue this deportation order when the police have dropped the charges?" Mr Leibowitz asked.

"We will try and show that this deportation order is motivated by a political agenda which aims to hide what is going on in the territories from international public opinion," he said.

On Friday, the Israeli army imposed tougher sanctions on foreigners, including journalists and humanitarian workers, wanting to enter the Gaza Strip.

They are barred from flashpoint areas and have to guarantee that they have no links with the ISM.